Any communication addressed to the Editor, at Messrs. Rivingtons', Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, will be carefully attended to; and corrections of the dates, and limitations of the patents of creation of Peers, will be highly acceptable.

V. P. vitâ patris, in the life-time of his father.
V. M. vitâ matris, in the life-time of his mother
V. F. vitâ fratris, in the life-time of his brother
S. P. sine prole, without issue.

S. P. M. sine prole masculâ, without male issue
S. P. L. sine prole legitimâ, without lawful issue
S. P. S. sine prole superstite, without issue that
K. G. Knight of the Garter.

K. B. Knight of the Bath.

G. C. B. Grand Cross Bath.

K. C. B. Knight Commander of the Bath.
K. T. Knight of the Thistle.

K. P. Knight of St. Patrick.

The Roman numerals indicate the number of borne that title, whilst the figures show how family have inherited it; thus in the title of 1 two first Earls, of the name of Giffard, are descr

EARLS.

I 1066. 1. Walter Giffard, &c.

II. 1102. 2. Walter Giffard, s. and h. &c.

indicating that the first Earl was created t 1066, and that the second succeeded to it in Earl, Richard de Clare, is marked

EARLS.

Ill. Hen. I. Richard de Clare, &c.

which means, that he was the third Earl, and dignity some time in the reign of Henry the precise year could not be ascertained. No that title until 1877, when Thomas Plantagen

cester was created Earl of Buckingham, and being the fourth Earl, but the first of his family, is marked

EARLS.

IV. 1377. 1. Thomas Plantagenet, &c.

and his son, who succeeded him in 1397, is designated by the figures

EARLS.

V. 1397. 2. Humphrey Plantagenet, s. and h. &c.

The title became Extinct in that line in 1400, and in the same year Humphry Stafford styled himself Earl of Buckingham, and became the sixth Earl; in 1441 he was raised to the dignity of Duke of Buckingham, and he is consequently marked

VI. 1400.-I. 1441. 1. Humphrey Stafford, &c.

and his grandson and great-grandson, who inherited those dignities, are described,

EARLS. DUKES.

-

VII. II. 1459. 2. Henry Stafford, grandson and heir, being, &c. VIII-III.1483. 3. Edward Stafford, s. and h. &c.

indicating, that the grandson succeeded in 1459, and was the fourth Earl and second Duke of Buckingham, but the second of that family who bore the title of Buckingham, whilst the greatgrandson of Humphrey Stafford above mentioned, who inherited the dignities in question in 1483, was the eighth Earl and third Duke, and the third person of the name of Stafford who bore those titles. The title of Buckingham was forfeited by the House of Stafford in 1521, and in 1617 George Villiers was created Earl of Buckingham, in 1618 Marquess, and in 1623 Duke of that County, and dying in 1629 was succeeded in his honors by his son George. These personages are therefore designated in the following manner :

EARLS. MARQUESSES. DUKES.

IX. 1617.-I. 1618.-IV. 1623. 1. George Villiers, &c.

X. .....—II. .....-V. 1629. 2. George Villiers, s. and h. &c. In 1687 the line of Villiers became extinct; but in 1618 Mary Villiers was created Countess of Buckingham for life, and she is marked thus,

1618. Mary Villiers, &c.

In 1703 John Sheffield was created Duke of Buckingham, and was succeeded by his son in 1720; they are therefore described as

DUKES.

VII. 1703. 1. John Sheffield, &c.

VIII. 1720. 2. Edward Sheffield, s. and h. &c.

The title of Buckingham again became extinct in 1735, and in 1782 George Grenville, 2d Earl Temple, was created Marquess of the Town of Buckingham *, in which dignity he was succeeded by his son and heir Richard, who has since been raised to the Dukedom of Buckingham and Chandos; these personages are

therefore marked

IV. 1813.-VIII. 1822. 2. Richard Grenville, s. and h. &c.

It thus appears that the present Duke is the fourth Marquess and eighth Duke of Buckingham, though but the second person of his name who ever bore either of those titles.

In the case of Baronies, those who were Barons by Tenure are uniformly stated to have succeeded each other in a specified reign, because it was impossible always to give the exact year when each possessor of the Barony died; and after one of the family was summoned to Parliament, the descent of the dignity created by Writ is shewn by the numerals, which commence again with the person so summoned, though the figures are continued; for example in the Barony of DESPENCER, the first five Barons by Tenure are marked merely by Roman numerals, because the relationship of one to the other is not known: but the moment the descent is recorded, the figures are introduced.

The words "Summoned to Parliament as" when applied to Barons by Writ, mean, that the style given is that by which he was addressed in the general Writs of Summons directed to him; and the expression alluded to has been substituted for the more correct one of "by Writ addressed," which the grammatical construction of the quotation requires, to avoid the frequent repetition of that sentence.

In p. 93, this title is considered to have been the same as that borne by the House of Villiers, but this is perhaps erroneous, for it does not appear whether George Villiers was created Marquess of the Town or County of Buckingham; nor is the Editor positive whether the present Duke was created Duke of the Town or County of Buckingham, but most probably only of the former, there being now and at the time of the Duke's creation, an Earl of Buckinghamshire.

It should be observed, that no marriage is noticed, excepting where the woman was either herself possessed of a dignity, or was the coheir of one; or where she was immediately or nearly descended from the Blood Royal.

This mark

applied after the name of an existing Peer, indicates that he is married; and the following one that he has issue.

The limitation of all Patents of creation was to the heirs male of the body of the Grantee only, unless otherwise expressed.

ADDENDA.

BARON.

ADBASTON.

BARONY, 25 Nov. 1815-Extinct 1825.

Vide WHITWORTH (Addenda).

BEXLEY.

1. 1823. 1. Nicholas Vansittart; Created Baron Bexley of Bexley, co. Kent, 1 March, 1823. Present Baron Bexley. =

BARON.

BOWES.

I. 1815. John Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore in Scotland; Created Baron Bowes of Streatlam Castle, co. Durham, 7 Aug. 1815; ob. 1820, s. P. L. when this Barony became Extinct.

BARON BY WRIT.

CLIFFORD.

1. 1628. 1. Henry Clifford, son and heir apparent of Francis IV.-4th Earl of Cumberland; Summoned to Parliament by Writs addressed" Henrico Clifford, Chevalier," from 7 March, 3 Car. I. 1628, to 3 Nov. 15 Car. I. 1639, and sat in several Parliaments accordingly; succeeded his father as Earl of Cumberland in 1641; ob. 1643, s. r.